Historical Foundations of Racism in the U.S. Society and Its Impact on Human Resources and Human Potential

This chapter acknowledges and discusses the foundations of racism and how these foundational truths reflect and impact our current realities. By providing a brief history of racism and discussing the importance of invoking a plan for anti-racism in the United States, this chapter stresses the intentionality and urgency of a critical paradigm that can address the reality of racism within organizations. This analysis will engage several key terms, including anti-racism, structural racism, and Whiteness. Furthermore, this analysis acknowledges the presence and influence of racism in institutions such as the financial industry, housing, health, education, law and politics, and policing and the criminal justice system. This chapter provides a history of covert and overt racist actions while illuminating the true nature and impact of racism in U.S. society and interpersonal human interactions. By looking at the COVID-19 pandemic, this chapter will explore the vulnerability of essential workers using an anti-racist Critical Human Resource Development (CHRD) model. Finally, this chapter concludes with hope, tying together key concepts toward developing a plan for anti-racism in general and specific to Human Resource Development (HRD). When the structural anecdote of anti-racism addresses the structural issue of racism, our nation will receive new life and breath and the ability to move forward.